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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn from their elders. In this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in which their grandparents grew up. Students conduct interviews with elders in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Echoes of Blue and Grey: Weekend Warriors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers view a video about the Civil War and then describe famous battles from the perspective of either the Union or the Confederate side.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Community Through Local History: Oral Stories, Landmarks and Traditions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the history of their local community. In this local history lesson, students analyze primary documents to develop an understanding of the local culture and traditions of their local community.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading A Historical Photograph

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine a historical photograph to gather information and draw conclusions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Old Photographs: Windows to the Past

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine several types of old photographs and compare them to photography today. Students search for historical photographs and draw conclusions about the time period from the subject matter. Students explain how a camera...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine the African American social, economic, and political conditions between 1896 and 1953. In this segregation lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of African Americans'...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drums of War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the political climate prior to major American wars of the past, then reflect on the current call for power to confront Iraq. They create posters using newspaper articles and headlines to highlight the major opinions of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze the U.S. Constitution.  In this U.S. History lesson, students explore the purpose of the Constitution, as well as who was involved in its creation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Past to the Present

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders work in pairs and read a primary source artifact. They create a PowerPoint slide that will be part of a "museum" presentation for the rest of their class. Students select artifacts from a group of digitalized artifacts...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Challenges Faced by the New Nation's Presidents

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders, while in the computer lab utilizing the internet, locate primary sources to interpret and analyze the struggle of the new nation to gain the respect of European countries. They interact with a worksheet that organizes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration/Migration

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the immigration into America by researching Ellis Island. In this United States History lesson, 6th graders research the Internet to view photographs and find information about the immigration to Ellis Island....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Removal Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use the Internet to research the Indian Removal Act and write a journalistic article showcasing their findings. They choose from a variety of viewpoints and topics to narrow their focus.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan:Launching the New U.S. Navy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students demonstrate understanding of the issues related to the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution and the new Government it established.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blessings of a Free Government: The Louisiana Purchase in 1803

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students may take part in a multitude of activities listed such as creating political cartoons, comparison papers, and creating a portfolio to reinforce concepts and ideas surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Slavery: A Crisis in the Making [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th
This lesson plan looks at the issue of slavery and the role it played in the American Revolution and the founding of the new Republic. Includes background information for the teacher. Students participate in performing a reader's theater...
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: A Nation Conceived in Liberty [Pdf]

For Teachers 11th
In this instructional activity, 11th graders examine the events and political philosophy that laid the foundations of the American government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They also look at what role religion played in...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Personal Stories and Primary Sources

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Young scholars will explore the value of personal stories and first-hand accounts when exploring history, in this case, the events of the early twentieth century, which included World War I and the Great Depression. Through this...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: American Memory: Colonial Settlement 1600s 1763

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The settlement of the colonies in America is the focus of this article. The course of events is divided into topics and time periods, making it easier to understand. Note is made of the effects to the already present Native Americans as...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Exploring Community Through Local History

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Guidelines for exploring local history and culture through examining a collection of written and spoken stories, landmarks, and traditions, such as food, festivals, and events. Students will research a variety of primary resources and...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Great Gatsby: Primary Sources From the Roaring Twenties

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In order to appreciate historical fiction, students need to understand the factual context and recognize how popular culture reflects the values, mores, and events of the time period. Since a newspaper records significant events and...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Civil War Photographs: The Mathew Brady Bunch

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students browse a collection of over one thousand Civil War photos, and then choose one to examine in-depth. The resulting assignment is a news article based on the photo's events and subject matter.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: World War I: What Are We Fighting for Over There?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Great War of 1914-1918 significantly shaped the course of the twentieth century, both at home and abroad. How can this pivotal event be personalized and brought to life for students in the new millennium? Unfortunately, increasingly...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Photo Analysis Presenting the Statue of Liberty

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
The ability to examine a primary source is a gateway to building critical thinking skills and constructing knowledge. This lesson provides the students an opportunity to observe similarities and differences between 2 visual images,...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: America at the Centennial

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan requiring student to analyze primary documents from the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. Students interpret what these historical artifacts say "about the lives and values of Americans in 1876" among other things.